The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (190721).Volume V. The Drama to 1642, Part One.

IV. Early English Tragedy.

§ 16. The Chronicle Histories: The Famous Victories of Henry the fifth.

The Famous Victories of Henry the fifth (printed 1598 and acted before 1588), by common consent the earliest example, though, doubtless, it is later in date than Richardus Tertius, departs as widely as possible from classical standards in its utter formlessness, its lack not only of choruses but of acts, its combination of comic and serious interests, its mixture of prose with indifferent verse.